howard



J. L. 85 0. P. HOWARD. LAMP FOR RAILWAY (JARS AND OTHER PURPOSES.- No. 271,462.

(No Model.)

Patented Ja11.30,1883.

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@Nrrn STATES ATENT Fries.

JAMES L. llOWARD AND (JIIARTJES P. HOWARD, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTI- OUT, ASSIGNORS TO JAMES L. HOWARD & 00., \OF SAME PLACE.

LAMP FOR RAILWAY-CARS AND OTHER PURPOSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 271,462, dated January30, 1683.

ApplicationfiledDecember l,1882. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES L. HOWARD and CHARLES P. HOWARD, citizens of the United States, and residing at Hartford, in the county ofLlartf'ord and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Lamps for Railway-Cars and other Purposes, which is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

. The center oil-lamps at present extensively used in lighting railway-cars are what are known as double lamps. In them the oil is held in a central fount having two horizontal tubes extended in opposite directions, at the extremities of which are vertical tubes carrying the burners. Itis necessary for the purposes ot'tilling and cleaning that the oil-fount,

with the burners and chimneys, should be readily detached from the lamp-frame, and when made ready for lighting be conveniently replaced. In rapidly returning the founts to the lamps after filling, particularly in cars with high ceilings and when in motion, it is desirable to first fasten the fount in place by simply pushing it vertically into the lamp-frame and firmly supporting it there by a spring latch or catch until a more positive latching or locking device can be brought into operation and secure it against being forced from its fastenin s.

The object of our invention is to provide a two-burner lamp-fount with a double latching or locking mechanism, the first device to opv manent ring of the lamp-frame.

crate as a spring latch or catch to Support the fount in place, the second device to operate as a more positive latch or look to secure the fount solidly and immovably in the lampframe until detached for refilling.

This invention consists- First, in the combination, with a frame-ring having beveled lugs, ofa pair of hooks standing above and pivoted to the horizontal founttubes, having levers extending horizontally and parallel to the tubes, against the under side of which are pressure-springs which cause the hooks to close upon and hold to the per- These levers also serve as means whereby to disengage the hooks when the fount is to be detached from the frame.

Second, in'the combination, with alockingbolt, of alocki'ng-ring turning within the permanent frame-ring, having a horizontal internal flange at its lower part cut away at intervals to allow corresponding projecting lugs on the fount-body to pass through it, the lugs having grooves turned in them corresponding to the internal flange of the locking-ring, so that the flange can enter the grooves as the ring is turned, thereby taking the weight of 6c the fount upon the horizontal flange of the locking-ring, and also in certain constructions hereinafter described and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view, showing our invention partly in 6 elevation and partly in section, and ready to be unlatched and withdrawn from the framering. Fig. 2 is a horizontal broken view of the same, partly in plan view and partly'in horizontal section. Fig. 3 is a broken detail vertical section of the lamp as fully locked; and Fig. dis a horizontal section of the framering.

In the aforesaid drawings, for the sake of clearness, the brackets supporting the permanent frame-ring from the ceiling of a railway- 7 car are not shown, they constituting no part of our claim under this application.

F represents the permanent frame-ring of a lamp, supported by brackets from the ceiling, (not shown in the drawings;) 0, the central 8o oil-fount; T, the horizontal tubes, at the extremitiesot' which are the vertical burner-tubes; H, the locking-hooks, pivoted at 1) to the casting (1, which surrounds and grasps the tubes T.

L represents the levers, extending horizontally from the hooks H; S, the springs, bearing against the under side of the levers, causing the hooks to close upon the frame-ring. The parts lot the hooks, extending horizontally in the opposite direction from the levers L, form stops to limit the throw of the hooks caused by the pressure of the springs.

F are the beveled guides, cast or riveted to the frame-ring, for guiding and opening the hooks H as the fount is pushed up into place in the frame. As the points of the hooks ride up the inclined surfaces of the guides they are forced open until the fount comes up to place, when the hooks snap over the guides and support the weight of the oil-fount.

=1 enatse It represents thelocking-ring, turning within the frame-ring F. It is operated by means of the thumb knob or ball m, through the slot at. Atits lower part the notched flange it rests upon the correspondingly-notched flange of the frame-ring F, both flanges being notched or cut awa at intervals suflicient to allow the interlocking lugs It on the fountO to pass when the fountO is being withdrawn from the framering, F, for the purposes of filling; and cleaning or for reinsertion into the frame -rin \Vhen the locking-ring Ytis turned by moving the thumb knob or ball on to the extremity of the slot 12, the tlange 7; enters the groove 1' in the lugs h and supports the oil-t'ountsecurely in place.

In the periphery of the locking-ring It is the notch t, engaging with the point of the springbolt 1) s, when the thumb knob or ball at is at the extremity of its throw and the openings in the flange I; are in position to allow the lugs h to pass during the act of withdrawing the fount O't'roin frame-ring F. he depth of the notch and the length of conical end of the spring-bolt are proportioned so that considerable torce is required to start the bolt out of this position, as it is desirable that it be held in position ready for reinscrtion of the oilt'onnt. A second and similar notch, 15, also secures the locking-ring It at the other extremity of its throw when the t'ount is locked in its place, preventing its gradually working back to its unlocked position.

What we claim as our illVQlltlOl'], and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a lamp having a detachable oil-fount, the combination of two locking devices for holding the lount in place, the first a self-operating spring-catch, the second a positive lock, substantially as described.

2. In a lamp having a detachable fount, the

combination, with a notched-flanged frame ring, F, of external guides, F, ring R, with notched flange In, lever locking -latches H, grooved lugs h, and a locking-bolt, I), substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In a lamp having a detachable oil-fount, the combination, with a frame-ring, F, having beveled guides F, of a self-operating spring latchingorlocking device for holding the tonnt in place, consisting of the lever-hooks L H and spring S, substantially as described.

at. Thecoinbination,withtheflanged notched frame-ring F,of the movable locking-ring It, provided with notches t t, and the spring-bolt Z) a, substantially as described.

JAMES L. II()\VARD. UIIARLES 1.. HOWARD.

-Witnesses:

GEORGE O. BARNES, ALBERT L. Bu 1: K n. 

